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The Vice Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Prof. Rasaq Olatunde ROM Kalilu, has attributed the lack of will on the part of best graduating students in the Nigerian universities to poor condition of service, including poor remuneration.
Prof. Kalilu, who decried that inadequate funding of the universities has grossly affected the system, called on the Federal Goverment and State Governments to inject more funds with a view to correcting the anomaly.
He stated this during the 17th Convocation and 35th Founder’s Day press conference held on Tuesday at the Governing Council Chamber of LAUTECH.
The VC explained that out of 11,528 graduates, only 94 make first class degrees, stressing, however, that most of the first class graduates don’t want to join the academia.
According to him, first class and other best graduates prefer to travel abroad because they are not encouraged to stay in the Nigerian education system.
“Some of the best gtaduates are supposed to be attracted to academics so that they can produce the likes of themselves.
“But the condition of service in the Nigerian universities is nothing to write home about. Academics should be well paid. The universities should be well funded such that there will be tools and equipment to work with in order to conduct research and analyze. If these things are provided and the condition is made better, many people will stay.
Lamenting the poor pay for Nigerian academics, Kalilu stated, “How will a first class graduate who is aware that his lecturer is earning just N100,000 want to stay as lecturs. How will s/he know much a professor earns and be encouraged to stay?
“Graduates of nowadays dream big and so they won’t want to stay, except for a few that are committed and are so desired.”
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